I don't have a kid, so I don't know how much work your 15 month old is. Nor do I know what your life situation is like in terms of job and other things. The only thing I wanted to chime in with is that you should ask yourself if you have the time to bring in a dog into your family. If not, maybe take the simple route for now by visiting your family more often or offer to pet sit every once in a while.
I love dogs and have a Shiba Inu that will turn 2 this December. I got her when she was 10 weeks old. There are times when she is very active and goes on a 3 mile walk while there are times where she is more lazy and prefers shorter walks. The point is, other than looking for dog breeds that are good with children and birds, you should consider other aspects such as activity level, grooming needs, etc.
If you are dead set on getting a pup now, I would recommend finding a reputable breeder or dedicated rescue shelter that focuses on that breed. They will be a great source of information not only on the breed, but of each particular pup (e.g. personality and such). Although I did not become a foster parent, I have done some work with my local Shiba Inu rescue. Foster parents will note things such as "has separation anxiety" or "does well with teenagers and up, but not younger children."